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Paradox® case study for South Yarra Autoparts Group of Companies, an Australian importer, distributor and wholesaler of OEM aftermarket parts for German cars. Submitted by Tom Krieg, Developer


Introduction

The Hanvic South Yarra Autoparts group of companies is Australia's largest independent importer, distributor and wholesaler of OEM aftermarket parts for German cars. In 1961, a small business named South Yarra Auto Parts opened its doors in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra, servicing, repairing and modifying Volkswagens and Porsches and selling aftermarket parts to suit. Over the years, business expanded and the company expanded with it, leaving the service and repair to others. In 1974, South Yarra Auto Parts merged with Hanvic Automotive Imports, an importer specializing in Mercedes Benz and BMW parts.

In 1983, the companies re-located to larger, more modern premises (in the same suburb) and in 1984 management decided it was time to install a computer system to handle the ever-increasing paperwork.


The Early System

The companies wanted a reliable computer system with built-in networking from the outset. As the only available specialized, vertical market software for the auto parts industry was extremely costly it was decided to write the software in-house, for Burroughs B20 hardware. The hardware used a proprietary Unix like operating system with inbuilt "networking" and came with COBOL. So the first application system was written in COBOL, using ISAM files as the "database". The first application to be developed was an "on-line" Parts Catalogue, followed by Invoicing, Accounts Receivable, Purchasing, Stock Control and finally Financial and Management Reporting. The system expanded and grew over the following 7 years and provided the basis for expansion of the two companies into Queensland in 1991 and Sydney in 1992.

By 1992, however, the B20 system was showing its age, and the continued expansion of the application software meant the B26's, B28's and network slowed to a crawl. It was decided to upgrade. By purchasing COBOL development software for PC's, existing applications were transferred without change to the latest Intel PC's running DOS and connected via a 10Mbps LANtastic network.

In 1994 management decided it was time to evaluate new database software and to rewrite the old COBOL applications using this new software. The companies started preparing for the Y2K "bug" early and Year 2000 compliance was a major factor in the selection of the new development software.


The Evaluation of Alternatives

Both Version 1 of Paradox for Windows and Microsoft Access were evaluated for their suitability for developing multi user (networked) applications to run under Windows. DOS based databases were dismissed. Paradox was chosen for its record locking and multi user abilities and for its ObjectPAL® language. When Paradox for Windows 4.5 was released it was purchased. Paradox was upgraded to version 5 the day that was released. At least the development software was now Y2K compliant and the rewrite commenced.


Rewriting a Very Large Application

The learning curve was reduced with the help of the Paradox manuals, the easy to understand lessons and tutorials and the early Paradox and ObjectPAL training videos. The first application (the "On Line" Catalogue) was completed in 6 months. Paradox's ability to import fixed length text files (and COBOL's ability to extract them) made converting existing data straightforward and fast. The ease of use of Paradox, the ease of designing forms and the flexibility and power of the ObjectPAL language meant that what was a 3-year project was completed in 18 months. At this stage, however, the Paradox system was basically a copy of the COBOL system, albeit running under Windows.


Going back to Basics

Because the Paradox database (table) structures were "borrowed" from the old ISAM file structures, the databases were far from being optimized for efficiency. Fortunately, due to the ease with which Paradox applications could be modified and enhanced, the databases were able to be redesigned and Paradox forms and reports were re-written without disruption to the "production" system.

It was decided to carefully look at the "old" system, documenting business rule changes and modifications and enhancements required to the system to bring it into line with the companies' new business strategies and market placement. These modifications and enhancements were gradually implemented over the next 2 years and by 1998 the companies had once more upgraded their computers and moved to Windows 95 and Paradox 7 (32 bit). The Paradox system was now handling catalogue searches, customer phone enquiries, customer orders and order tracking, invoicing, stock control, ordering of parts, importing, currency conversion and costing, accounts receivable, accounts payable and the companies' payroll.


The Year 2000

Because of Paradox, the year 2000 was a non-event. Computers were turned off on Christmas eve 1999 and turned back on on January 2, 2000 and no one noticed.


July 1, 2000

July 1, 2000 saw the introduction in Australia of a "Goods and Services" tax, similar to Europe's VAT. Computer software which was previously compliant with Australia's tax laws was now worse than obsolete, it was dangerous. Hanvic Automotive Imports and South Yarra Auto Parts also merged completely and became Hanvic South Yarra Autoparts. Again, the ease and speed with which Paradox applications could be modified enabled Hanvic South Yarra Autoparts' applications to comply with Australia's new tax laws and to handle the restructure of the companies (with the attendant new business rules and changes in reporting).


Conclusion

The automotive industry is a volatile and complex industry. Changes occur frequently and new models are released almost weekly. It can almost be compared to the computer industry, what was current and up to date yesterday is now superseded and the internet has changed the way a lot of companies do business. For Hanvic South Yarra Autoparts, Paradox continues to meet the challenge.

No company, and no business application, can remain static, and Hanvic is regularly reviewing its software's functionality. Hanvic's Paradox software can now track parts from the time they're ordered, through the time they're invoiced by the supplier, packed, loaded into a container, shipped, cleared through Australian customs to the time they arrive at Hanvic's warehouse where they are barcoded. This software continually re-evaluates costs and budgets based on exchange rate fluctuations and provides accurate and up-to-date budget reports for management. Phone operators can look up an out of stock part and let the customer know where it is, when it will arrive and how much it will cost.

Hanvic now imports and distributes parts for Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, SAAB and Volkswagen cars. It sponsored the "Red Beetle" in the last London to Sydney marathon and is moving into Motor Racing.


The Future

Hanvic South Yarra Autoparts currently has three branches as well as its head office. Until now, branches have communicated via telephone and faxes, and head office has had to wait until month end to consolidate financial data from backups on CD.

Paradox is more than meeting even this challenge. Hanvic has employed Crooit Software in Alaska to write the front end (in Paradox, using Crooit's Paradox HTML generator) for a system which will link all Hanvic's branches using a Virtual Private Network and the Corel Web Server. At the end of August, a phone operator in Sydney or Queensland will be able to inquire about the availability of out of stock parts in Melbourne and will be able to order the required parts, using Paradox and an Internet Browser. The same operator will also be able to inquire whether an out of stock part has been ordered and when it will arrive.

Hanvic is looking to the future and will use Paradox to provide its customers with the ability to accurately and quickly look up parts in its "Catalogue" and to place orders for those parts, over the internet. The design of a sophisticated, Paradox based, Order Requirements Planning system has also commenced.



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